MPM.L Regulatory News (MPM)

14 Oct 2005 06:00

Minster Pharmaceuticals and the University of Buckingham investigate potential of sabcomeline in Type 2 diabetes 14 October 2005, Cambridge, UK... Minster Pharmaceuticals, the AIM-listed (AIM:MPM) drug development company, is to have its drug candidate sabcomelineinvestigated for its potential in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes byUniversity of Buckingham metabolic diseases expert, Professor MichaelCawthorne.The University of Buckingham will investigate the effect of a range of doses ofsabcomeline on glucose uptake and insulin sensitivity. If the results arepositive, Minster will consider taking the product into clinical development inthis indication.Type 2 diabetes, in which the body does not produce enough insulin or does notrespond to insulin, affects around 200 million people world wide, and thenumber is expected to increase with lifestyle changes and growing levels ofobesity. Diabetes is a major cause of death, and increases the risk of heartattacks and strokes.The potential of sabcomeline in diabetes is based on research which suggeststhat over half of whole body glucose uptake after a meal is dependent onhepatic insulin sensitising substance (HISS) release from the liver. HISSrelease is controlled by the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve and mediated byacetylcholine acting at the muscarinic M1 receptor1. As a muscarinic M1agonist, sabcomeline may enhance glucose uptake by leading to the production ofmore HISS, without inducing hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) at other times.Sabcomeline has been in development for the treatment of cognitive decline inschizophrenia since Minster Pharmaceuticals licensed it from GlaxoSmithKline in2001. Given its prior development at GSK, it has an extensive preclinicalregistration package and good clinical safety data in over 2,500 patients, someof whom were treated for over a year.Dr Paul Sharpe, CEO of Minster Pharmaceuticals commented: "We are pleased thatMike and his expert team at the University of Buckingham will be investigatingthe clinical potential of sabcomeline in Type 2 diabetes. Minster believes thatthe extensive clinical experience with the product will allow rapid progressionto establishment of the clinical activity of the compound and its potential asa significant advance in treatment. Plans with regard to developing our otherdrug candidate, tonabersat, to proof of concept in migraine are progressingwell."Professor Michael Cawthorne, Director of Metabolic Research at the CloreLaboratory, University of Buckingham added: "We are delighted to have theopportunity to work with Minster Pharmaceuticals to examine the HISS hypothesisusing this M1 agonist. If our work has a successful outcome, rapid advance intoclinical studies should be possible".1 Ribeiro et al Diabetologia (2005) 48:976-983 --ENDS- For further information, please contact:Minster Pharmaceuticals plcDr Paul Sharpe, CEO +44 1799 506623University of BuckinghamProfessor Michael Cawthorne +44 1280 820309Northbank Communications +44 207 886 8150Emma Palmer (financial enquiries)Rowan Minnion (media enquiries)About Minster PharmaceuticalsMinster Pharmaceuticals is an AIM-listed (AIM:MPM) drug development companyspecialising in compounds for the treatment of neurological and psychiatricconditions. The Company was established as BioPartners Ltd in 2001 when itacquired from GlaxoSmithKline the worldwide development rights for twocompounds, tonabersat and sabcomeline, which have benefited from GSK'ssubstantial investment. Tonabersat, a novel compound for the treatment andprevention of migraine, completed a Phase II programme in over 1000 patients inthe late 1990s, and is being developed further in this indication by MinsterPharmaceuticals. Sabcomeline has completed clinical trials in over 2,500patients, and has been identified as a potential treatment for chronicschizophrenia. It is now in Phase II trials. Development work is carried out byservice providers such as contract research organisations, and at theappropriate time Minster plans to license its pharmaceutical products topharmaceutical companies in order to complete development, register and marketthe drugs. As well as the development of sabcomeline and tonabersat, thecompany is looking to take on the development of further compounds by way ofacquisition or in-licensing. For more information, please go to www.minsterpharma.com.About the Clore Laboratory, University of BuckinghamThe Clore Laboratory focuses on diabetes, obesity and metabolic research. Thisinternationally recognised research group has interests in molecular genetics,biochemistry, pharmacology, nutrition and the physiology of metabolic diseases.The Clore Laboratory is led by Professors Mike Cawthorne and Jon Arch,researchers with a track record in drug discovery, including Ž²3-adrenoceptoragonists and the thiazolidinedione insulin sensitiser rosiglitazone(GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia). Mike Cawthorne was awarded the 2001 Society forMedicines Research award for drug discovery in recognition of his work on thediscovery of rosiglitazone. For more information, please go to www.buckingham.ac.uk/cloreAbout diabetesType 2 diabetes affects more than 200 million people worldwide and the numberis expected to increase further over the next 10 years. In Europe, 5-10% of theadult population have diabetes. In the United States, diabetes is the sixthhighest cause of death by disease, with an estimated 16 million Americansaffected. The incidence rates in many countries in the Middle East, the Indiansubcontinent, South East Asia and South America are considerably higher than inEurope and North America, and in some cases are reaching epidemic levels.Diabetes increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease such asstroke, coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Diabetes is also theleading cause of adult-onset blindness, kidney failure, non-traumatic limbloss, and loss of neurosensory function. Diabetes has significant economicimportance in that typically healthcare costs for diabetics are twice those ofnon-diabetics.The cost of diabetes in the USA is estimated currently at morethan $90billion per annum. Obesity is strongly linked with Type 2 diabetes butit also impacts on many other diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease.Obesity is one of the fastest growing epidemics in the world, affecting bothdeveloped and developing countries. It is estimated that the costs of obesityrepresent approximately 6-8% of the direct healthcare budgets of developedcountries. Obesity is not simply a matter of overeating; understanding obesityinvolves understanding the interaction of genes and diet and the complexneuroendocrine matrix that regulates energy balance.ENDMINSTER PHARMACEUTICALS PLC